Biographies

Biography

Mark Baxter, an active police officer in his 25th year of duty, currently serves as a detective specializing in investigating counterfeit identity documents and alcohol-related offenses. He provides training to police officers, police recruits, and civilians on detecting and preventing the use of counterfeit identity documents.

Baxter’s perseverance in applying his expertise on-duty has successfully prevented over 3500 alcohol sales to minors and led to the seizure of thousands of counterfeit IDs.

Biography

Ryan “Buzz” Buzzini, an experienced law enforcement professional with 29 years of service, has served as a reserve paramedic, worked in the Idaho Poison Control Center, and specialized in pharmacy fraud for over 15 years. He also held positions with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and the DEA Task Force, focusing on drug trafficking and the fraudulent prescription pill epidemic, respectively. Buzz's extensive knowledge in the fields of medical professionals, street-level usage, and sales has led him to deliver humorous and entertaining lectures at professional drug coalitions, conferences, and the drug testing industry. Currently, he continues to share his expertise as a contractor with J. Chad Professional Training, making his teaching enjoyable and impactful.

Biography

Rebecca Chiasson is the Chemistry Manager at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. She has extensive experience in forensics, specifically drug chemistry, toxicology, and crime scene processing. She has been qualified as an expert on several occasions in forensic drug chemistry in state and/or federal court. She holds memberships in several professional organizations and has been appointed to various state-level committees and task forces related to drug policy and impaired driving. She plays a crucial role in identifying, banning, and educating about new synthetic drugs that pose a public health hazard. Additionally, she is involved in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan to address drug-impaired driving in Louisiana.

Biography

Officer David Gomez, a School Resource Officer with over 12 years of experience, has dedicated over a decade to educating parents and youth about the dangers of social media and electronic devices. Utilizing his extensive knowledge and innate ability to stay current, Officer Gomez provides practical tips to help parents and children navigate the ever-changing digital landscape safely. He has spoken to various groups about the dangers of social media, drug normalization, and the impact of drugs and alcohol on youth. Officer Gomez has assisted the Idaho Crimes Against Children Task Force, provided information to police departments and community agencies on internet predators, and successfully operated undercover social media accounts to apprehend predators and locate missing children. He continues to educate through YouTube, Ted Talks, and travels nationally to empower youth and parents to make informed choices regarding digital devices and substance abuse.

Biography

Alex Graham, a Deputy Sheriff with a large metropolitan Sheriff's Office in Minnesota, has 10 years of full-time law enforcement experience. He is a Drug Recognition Expert Instructor since 2015 and a DRE and SFST Instructor since 2016. Alex began his career in Colorado as a Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer before moving to Minnesota in 2016, where he served as a lead DWI Training Instructor. He has received two awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his dedication to DWI enforcement, is a 5-time DWI All-Star in Minnesota, and has made over 540 DWI arrests. Currently, he serves as a full-time DWI Enforcement Deputy for the Sheriff's Office.

Biography

Richard Grosfelt served over 34 years with the U.S. DEA, spending 28 years as a Special Agent and 6 additional years as Outreach Coordinator for the DEA’s Pharmaceutical Diversion Control Unit. His experience at the DEA has given him a specialized knowledge of both the current drug trends situation as well as tactical awareness, with an extensive background in teaching and conducting presentations through various training programs. His expertise was gained through conducting numerous narcotics investigations as well as through his certifications as a DEA firearms, tactical, and defensive tactics instructor. In his outreach role, he directed educational programs focused on raising awareness of current drug trends/dangers among diverse audiences, including students, parents, educators, coaches, healthcare professionals, and community groups. As a result of his extensive tactical background, he has also conducted situational awareness training sessions to non-law enforcement personnel during wellness programs designed to increase their overall personal safety.

Biography

Chuck Hayes, a former Division Director with the Oregon State Police, dedicated 29 and a half years to the department before retiring in 2003. With an Associate of Arts Degree in Police Science and various certifications, he attended training courses and schools related to traffic safety, drug recognition, and impaired driving. After retirement, Chuck joined the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as the western region coordinator for the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, providing technical support and training on drug and alcohol-impaired driving enforcement. He authored publications and chaired committees on DUI training and prevention. Chuck is an IACP-recognized Drug Recognition Expert Emeritus and a recipient of the IACP J. Stannard Baker Lifetime Achievement in Roadway Safety award.

Biography

R. Hayes, the Western Region Project Manager for the Drug Evaluation Classification Program for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, retired as a Patrol Lieutenant with the Albany Police Department after 32 years in law enforcement. He worked in various capacities including reserve deputy, patrol officer, and crash reconstructionist. Robert specializes in traffic enforcement and impaired driver detection and is certified as a Drug Recognition Expert and Instructor, Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor, and crash reconstructionist. He teaches at the Oregon Police Academy and chaired the Linn County DUII Victim Impact Panel and the DUII Multi-Disciplinary Training Task Force for 15 years. Robert has received numerous awards for his dedication to combating impaired driving.

Biography

Melissa Moore brings nearly 24 years of experience in Public Health, specializing in substance abuse prevention and coalition initiatives within diverse communities. Her extensive background enables her to effectively deliver a wide array of educational topics, including the latest drug trends while providing insights into emerging issues through community assessments. Recognizing the necessity of addressing the underlying factors contributing to substance abuse, Ms. Moore has played a pivotal role in the assessment, planning, implementation, and grant-writing processes aimed at transforming community responses to this significant challenge. As an expert in engagement and communication, she consistently seeks opportunities to translate innovative ideas into actionable solutions, addressing the critical question: “We acknowledge this issue; what can we do about it?”

Biography

Karen Williams, M.S.S.W., is an educator known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex neuroscience concepts, making them relatable, engaging, and applicable to everyday life. Her 35+ years of experience in youth development have allowed her to integrate neuroscience into diverse fields such as mental health, education, juvenile justice, child protective services, substance abuse prevention, and highway traffic safety. As a full-time consultant and trainer in private practice, Karen collaborates with organizations nationwide, sharing her expertise and facilitating transformative learning experiences.

Biography

Wrangham has been a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor and Certified Prevention Specialist since 2000. He’s been a preschool teacher, counselor for federal prisoners on parole, parenting coach for families experiencing poverty and homelessness, and a freelance illustrator. When he worked in Uganda studying wild chimpanzees, he taught forest conservation to young people in local villages. From 2003 through 2017, Nigel taught prevention science, psychopharmacology, and media studies at the University of Oregon. He has served as the National Youth Coordinator for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and is a certified Master Level Trainer for CADCA, where he develops curriculum and mentors young trainers in prevention & public health. His passion is supporting young people to build the equitable, just, and healthy society they deserve. He works with groups across the nation, sharing skills in prevention, social justice, brain development, and youth leadership. Nigel also spends time at home in Oregon with his wife, his two extremely disobedient cats, and his two young children. When he gets the chance, he listens to old punk rock music way louder than he probably should. But these days he hardly ever gets the chance.